NPF News

ROSEMONT, Ill. – July 5, 2014 - Jessica Garcia’s 8th inning RBI single turned out to be the game winner as the Racers took game three of the series, 4-3. Akron’s win tonight was their first of the series and snapped the Bandits four game winning streak.

Monica Abbott got the call for the Bandits facing off in the circle against Alison Owen for the Racers.

The Racers took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first off a blast by Kelly Montalvo to left center. Pitching took over until the fifth inning when the Bandits, still down by three, began their comeback. A single by Megan Wiggins scored two, cutting the Racers lead to one.

Tammy Williams tied things up in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run, her seventh of the season.

Heading to extra innings all tied up at three, a Jessica Garcia single to center plated Taylor Schlopy to give the Racers a 4-3 lead. Unable to create any offense in the bottom of the inning with a bases loaded situation the Bandits fell to the Racers for the first time this series, 4-3.

Despite suffering her second loss of the season, Abbott was lights out for the remainder of the game. In eight innings pitched she gave up four runs on five hits while striking out 12.

Owen picked up the win, also throwing a complete game. She allowed three runs on eleven hits with one strikeout.

The series concludes tomorrow afternoon with a 3:05 p.m. start time at the Ballpark at Rosemont.

GAME NOTES:

* Emily Allard went 2-3 while Tammy Williams was 3-4 at the plate

* With her home run tonight, Williams’ tied Cervantes as the league home run leader. Both have hit seven home runs this season

The Akron Racers, headquartered in Akron, OH, are the oldest existing team in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. The Racers competed in the Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) for two seasons in 1999 and 2000 and in the NPF since 2004. Historic Firestone Stadium is home to the Racers and numerous amateur events at all levels of play. The Racers kick-off their 13th season of play in 2014.

Since 2005, the Chicago Bandits have been members of National Pro Fastpitch. Located in the Chicagoland area, the Bandits provide an opportunity for female fastpitch players to further their careers at a professional level. The roster has included such names as Jennie Finch, Stacy May and Monica Abbott. The two-time NPF Champions play at The Ballpark at Rosemont, the only stadium in the country built for a women’s professional team.

National Pro Fastpitch is headquarted in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport has operated since 1997 under the name of Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women's fastpitch softball since 2002.